Bay Lights show debuts on Bay Bridge

March 5, 2013 10:24 PM

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

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San Francisco prepared for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of the Bay Bridge being illuminated by thousands of LED lights from the structural cables on Tuesday night. less

San Francisco prepared for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of the Bay Bridge being illuminated by thousands of LED lights from the structural cables on ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

San Francisco prepared for the lighting of the Bay Lights art... Photo-4287233.57944 - seattlepi.com

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The Bay Lights art project illuminates the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. The LED art installation will be on display for two years.

The Bay Lights art project illuminates the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. The LED art installation will be on display for two years.

Spectators lined up along the Embarcadero braved the rain and wind to watch as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, which illuminated the bridge with thousands of LED lights from the structural cables. less

Spectators lined up along the Embarcadero braved the rain and wind to watch as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Spectators lined up along the Embarcadero braved the rain and wind... Photo-4287276.57944 - seattlepi.com

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James Thomassen of San Jose, and Holly Lovato of Sunnyvale, took shelter under umbrellas to watch as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, which illuminated the bridge with thousands of LED lights from the structural cables. less

James Thomassen of San Jose, and Holly Lovato of Sunnyvale, took shelter under umbrellas to watch as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

James Thomassen of San Jose, and Holly Lovato of Sunnyvale, took... Photo-4287321.57944 - seattlepi.com

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Doug Valchar, left, and his girlfriend Eleni Courcoumelis watch as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, which illuminated the bridge with thousands of LED lights from the structural cables. less

Doug Valchar, left, and his girlfriend Eleni Courcoumelis watch as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on ... more

Debra Amador-DeLaRosa takes a picture as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, which illuminated the bridge with thousands of LED lights from the structural cables. less

Debra Amador-DeLaRosa takes a picture as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, ... more

Spectators lined up along the embarcadero watch as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, which illuminated the bridge with thousands of LED lights from the structural cables. less

Spectators lined up along the embarcadero watch as the Bay Lights illuminated the cables on the Bay Bridge on Tuesday night. San Franciscans watched the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Spectators lined up along the embarcadero watch as the Bay Lights... Photo-4287230.57944 - seattlepi.com

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 5: The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is illuminated with artist Leo Villareal's Bay Lights sculpture on March 5, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Designed by artist Leo Villareal, the Bay Lights is the world's largest LED light sculpture, spanning 1.8 miles long and 500 feet high with 25,000 individual LED lights. The installation will be on display daily from dusk to 2 a.m. for the next two years (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 5: The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is illuminated with artist Leo Villareal's Bay Lights sculpture on March 5, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Designed by artist Leo Villareal, ... more

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 5: A group of people watch the grand lighting of the Bay Lights art installation on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on March 5, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Designed by artist Leo Villareal, the Bay Lights is the world's largest LED light sculpture, spanning 1.8 miles long and 500 feet high with 25,000 individual LED lights. The installation will be on display daily from dusk to 2 a.m. for the next two years (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 5: A group of people watch the grand lighting of the Bay Lights art installation on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on March 5, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Designed by ... more

Photo: Stephen Lam, Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 5: A group of people watch the grand... Photo-4287367.57944 - seattlepi.com

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 5: The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is illuminated with artist Leo Villareal's Bay Lights sculpture on March 5, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Designed by artist Leo Villareal, the Bay Lights is the world's largest LED light sculpture, spanning 1.8 miles long and 500 feet high with 25,000 individual LED lights. The installation will be on display daily from dusk to 2 a.m. for the next two years (Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 5: The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is illuminated with artist Leo Villareal's Bay Lights sculpture on March 5, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Designed by artist Leo Villareal, ... more

A segment of cable rigging for the LED's and a cross section of a cable from the Bay Bridge shows the manner the lights are attached during a press confrerence for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of the Bay Bridge being illuminated by thousands of LED lights from the structural cables on Tuesday night. less

A segment of cable rigging for the LED's and a cross section of a cable from the Bay Bridge shows the manner the lights are attached during a press confrerence for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

A segment of cable rigging for the LED's and a cross section... Photo-4286571.57944 - seattlepi.com

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Artist Leo Villareal smiles as Mayor Ed Lee answers a question during a press conference at the Ferry Building about the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of the Bay Bridge being illuminated by thousands of LED lights from the structural cables on Tuesday night. less

Artist Leo Villareal smiles as Mayor Ed Lee answers a question during a press conference at the Ferry Building about the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of the ... more

Stefunny Pettee (cq) of San Francisco takes a photo of the Bay Bridge on Tuesday from Pier 14, as San Franciscans prepared for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of the Bay Bridge being illuminated by thousands of LED lights from the structural cables on Tuesday night. less

Stefunny Pettee (cq) of San Francisco takes a photo of the Bay Bridge on Tuesday from Pier 14, as San Franciscans prepared for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Stefunny Pettee (cq) of San Francisco takes a photo of the Bay... Photo-4286565.57944 - seattlepi.com

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Jonathan Forman, 13, right, and his father, Barry Forman set up lawn chairs to watch the lighting of the Bay Lights on Tuesday. San Franciscans prepared for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of the Bay Bridge being illuminated by thousands of LED lights from the structural cables on Tuesday night. less

Jonathan Forman, 13, right, and his father, Barry Forman set up lawn chairs to watch the lighting of the Bay Lights on Tuesday. San Franciscans prepared for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on ... more

Members of the press are silhouetted against a view of the Bay Bridge during a press conference at the Ferry Building for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of the Bay Bridge being illuminated by thousands of LED lights from the structural cables on Tuesday night. less

Members of the press are silhouetted against a view of the Bay Bridge during a press conference at the Ferry Building for the lighting of the Bay Lights art project on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in anticipation of ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Members of the press are silhouetted against a view of the Bay... Photo-4286569.57944 - seattlepi.com